ABOUT
What is GD4DWHAT IS GD4D
Grenada’s Diaspora for Development Project (GD4D) is a project implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with IOM – the UN Migration Agency. This project seeks to engage, enable and empower the diaspora with the aim of fostering a transfer of the diaspora’s human, social, economic and cultural capital while enhancing exchanges, communication and strengthening partnerships, to make the diaspora a true partner in the development of Grenada.
With a population of approximately 107,000 inhabitants, estimates and anecdotal evidence suggest that the Grenadian diasporas significantly outnumbers its domestic population. As a small island developing state, population size continues to constrain the country’s development. Issues of scalability have important impacts on foreign direct investments attraction and economies of scale. The increase in this out migration has reduced much needed skills to support development within many sectors.
The information obtained from the GD4D Project will act as an important indicator to guide Government policy to engage the diaspora by documenting skills, resources and the return interest and plans of those willing to support national development. The diasporas possess rich human, social and cultural skills and experiences and are willing to participate in national development. As migration trends increase so has the desire of the diaspora to maintain a sense of identity, a connection to their place of origin and to contribute to the development of their home country.
Through a mapping exercise, the project sets out to acquire information on the number of persons, organizations and associations that constitute the diaspora; which regions/countries they can be found and most importantly, what skills they may posses and are willing to share for the development of their homeland.
GD4D Project Activities
Mapping Exercise
The GD4D Project staff will use an online survey to conduct an overall mapping of the Grenadian diaspora to analyze available skills and resources
Skills Gap Assessment
A skills gap assessment will be conducted in collaboration with local public and private sector partners to identify skills (labour) gaps in Grenada.
Finalize Grenada Diaspora Engagement Policy
Project staff will finalize the already drafted Grenada diaspora engagement policy and develop an action plan to implement the policy to strengthen Government’s engagement with the diaspora.
Connecting the Grenadian Diaspora Online
The GD4D Project will establish an online hub (website) and accompanying social networking tools to both serve as a conduit between locals and the diaspora and to facilitate easy accessibility for participation in the mapping exercise for Grenadians around the globe.
Remittances for Development
Facilitate discussions to brain storm concrete ways in which the cost of remittances could be reduced and/or better structured to assist in national development
Re-establish Diaspora Unit
Lead the re-establishment of a dedicated diaspora unit to coordinate services for strategic diaspora engagement, due diligence, monitoring and evaluation, data collection and periodic reports.
Who is eligible to participate in GD4D?
- All Grenadians living abroad
- Children and grand children of Grenadian parentage living abroad
- Anyone who considers Grenada ‘Home’ and is interested in contributing to it’s development
Make your participation count
Take the survey!
The information shared will be dealt with the strictest confidentiality and will only be used for the purpose intended. Data derived will only be used by the project’s representatives to compile data on who constitutes the Grenadian diaspora, where they can be found (state and country), what skills, resources and experiences they have and would like to share, where their interest lies and what expectations they may have in sharing their skills in Grenada. This information will be collated in a database and will inform the second phase of the project which will facilitate the matching of skills to needs and gaps within the private and public sectors in Grenada.
Diaspora Meetings
Staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IOM will meet and interact with representatives of diaspora groups and Grenadian Missions overseas at forums in select cities, where there is a large Grenadian population. This will be an opportunity for Grenadians to both provide feedback on the draft policy and to participate in the mapping exercise while sharing the importance of encouraging all Grenadians abroad to take the survey.
Connecting with Grenadians worldwide
Grenadians, particularly those of prominence will be encouraged to use their networks to support the drive for greater participation in the mapping exercise globally.
Who or what is IOM?
Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
Migration and Development
In order to harness the positive potential migration can have for the development of countries of origin and destination, IOM’s diaspora engagement initiatives – such as this one – focus on building the capacity of governments and other stakeholders in countries of origin to communicate with and engage their expatriate communities in initiatives related to home country development, and on contributing to the increase of more development-oriented migration policies.
IOM’s work in this area also focuses on remittances – the funds migrants send home. Remittances, being foremost private transfers, offer enhanced and wider development possibilities for families, communities and countries. Activities in the remittance area aim to facilitate the development of policies and mechanisms that improve remittance services to migrants and enhance the development impact of remittances. In doing so, IOM’s current focus is on data collection, policy dialogue and dissemination of good practices.
IOM in the Caribbean
IOM, via its Coordination Office for the Caribbean based in Guyana, and via Country Offices based in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, works to support governments and other partners in the Caribbean across the entire range of migration issues – from counter-trafficking, smuggling of migrants, and immigration/border management, to promoting disaster risk reduction, ensuring access to health services for migrant and mobile populations, and providing humanitarian support after large-scale emergencies.
Diaspora engagement projects and initiatives – similar to this one in Suriname – are also being supported in Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In Suriname, aside from this initiative, IOM equally offers the possibility of support for victims of trafficking and stranded migrants. IOM also offers return and reintegration assistance for returned migrants from the Netherlands.
Who or what is diaspora?
IOM defines diasporas as “migrants or descendants of migrants, whose identity and sense of belonging have been shaped by their migration experience and background.” … These links – whether cultural, linguistic, historical, religious or affective – are what distinguish diaspora groups from other communities.
With 166 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status, and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants, promoting international cooperation on migration issues, assisting in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and providing humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement.
Contact Person
Trisha Mitchell
Project Coordinator – Grenada Diaspora Project
IOM Guyana
